Cleaning unit package



IN V EN TOR.

Feb. 26, 1957 J. G. HUMPHREY CLEANING UNIT PACKAGE Filed Sept. 10, 1955 (ILEANING illill PACMGE James G. Humphrey, Qhicago, ill.

Application September ill, 1953, Serial No. 379,439 Claims. ill. 2%6-47) My invention relates to a new and useful cleaning unit package which has particular adaptability for use as an accessory item for automobiles and similar vehicles but which, in its broader aspects, has a much wider field of use, particularly in the household, in garages, and in other establishments, as will become clear in the light of the following disclosures and teachings.

in connection with the cleaning and polishing of automobiles, for example, by individuals, it is conventional practice initially to wash the automobile with water or a water solution of a detergent, a rubber or plastic or natural sponge or tne like being utilized. Then, after drying, with or without the use of a cloth or the like, a wax or other finish is applied and such finish is then "tlbbiid down with a suitable polishing cloth. In such operations, the hands become wet and soiled. Moreover, it is inconvenient to carry the sponge and the cloth or cloths in the automobile in a readily accessible place whereby said items are readily at hand.

in accordance with my invention, a simple, compact cleaning unit package has been evolved which overcomes the deficiencies which have heretofore surrounded the carrying out of operations such as have been illustrated above. in general, the cleaning unit package comprises a container element made of a flexible substantially waterproof material within which a cleaning sponge, a polish ing cloth or cloths as well as, if desired, other cleaning or polishing accessory items may neatly and conveniently be packaged. The container has the general configuration of a glove or mitten, particularly the latter, including a thumb portion. One or more flexible partition members are disposed within said glove or mitten whereby to form a plurality of compartments within which the sponge, polishing cloth or cloths and the like may be individually housed. The partition members are so arranged as to render the thumb portion accessible through at least one and advantageously through any of said compartments. in other words, when the sponge and polishing cloths and the like are removed from their respective compartments for use, the hand can be inserted in the glove or mitten with the thumb of the hand extending into the thumb compartment. The glove or mitten thus functions to cover or protect the hand from water, dirt, grease and grime and the like. it also serves as a receptacle for a plurality of cleaning accessory items which are advantageously kept out of contact with each other as, for example, a wet sponge and a dry polishing cloth. All of such cleaning accessory items are thus maintained in readily accessible, convenient and compact form, con:- prising a neat package which may be kept in the glove compartment, the trunk or any other part of the automobile and which occupies a minimum of space.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 show illustrative preferred embodiments of my invention wherein- Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the package with a sponge and polishing cloth disposed within the mitten-shaped container;

3 2,782,912 Patented Feb. 26, 1957 Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal edge view of the container proper, with the sponge and polishing cloth removed therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of package wherein two partition members are utilized whereby to form three compartments;

Fig. 5 is a view of the container from which the sponge and polishing cloth have been removed and showing the position of the hand therein with the thumb positioned in the thumb portion; and

Pig. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing the arrangement of the partition member whereby to provide for access to the thumb portion when the hand is inserted in the mitten.

Referring now to the drawing, the container generally denoted by the numeral lil comprises a container element made from a flexible substantially waterproof material having the general configuration of a hand covering, particularly a mitten, including a thumb portion 3.2. The container is advantageously made from a flexible sheet of a synthetic plastic, preferably translucent or transparent, especially of the thermoplastic type. Typical materials of this type are polyethylene, vinyl plastics, cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate and cellulose butyrate, rubber hydrochloride such as Pliofilrn, and the like. Polyethylene and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate c0- polymers are especially satisfactory.

The container it) is advanta eousl made from two sheets l4, lid, of the flexible sheet material heat-sealed or otherwise sealed at their edges to form closed sides ill, ill and a closed bottom 22, the end 24- opposite the closed bottom being open. Disposed within the container ill is a partition member as, made of a flexible substantially waterproof material such as that of which the container element is made. The partition member as extends from open end 24 or near the open end 24 toward the bottom closed end 22 and, preferably, the full or substantially the full length of the mitten. Said partition member is heat-sealed or otherwise sealed along the bottom and sides, except as hereafter pointed out, between the sheets l4, l6. it will, thus, be seen that the partition 26 serves to form two individual compartments within the mitten. The arrangement of the partition is such, however, that the thumb portion is accessible through at least one and preferably through both of the compartments. To this end, it will be noted that the portion 23 of the side or edge of the partition member 26 is left free.

Disposed within one of the compartments is a sponge or similar wet cleaning member 3d and disposed within the other compartment is a polishing cloth or the like 32.

in Pig. 4, I show a construction similar to that of the other figures except that two flexible partition members 26 and 26 are utilized whereby three individual cornpartments are formed. in one of said compartments a sponge or similar article 3b is housed, in another a polishing cloth or the like 52 may be housed. it will, of course, be appreciated that, within practicable limits, any number of partition members can be employed to form a plurality of individual compartments, and said compartments can be used for housing any one or more of a variety of difierent articles for cleaning, polishing and allied purposes. Thus, for example, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, a package of wax 3 can be housed.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A cleaning unit package comprising a container element made of a flexible substantially waterproof material having the general configuration of a hand covering including a thumb portion, at least one partition member of flexible substantially waterproof material provided with side edges and joined to said container element adjacent said side edges, said partition member being disposed within said hand covering and extending from near the open end thereof toward the bottom closed end-of said hand covering whereby to form a plurality of individual compartments within said hand covering, at least one said partition member having an edge free adjacent the area of said thump portion whereby said thumb portion is rendered accessible through one of said compartments, a polishing cloth disposed within one of said compartments, and a sponge member disposed within another of said compartments.

2. A container member for use in a cleaning unit package comprising a container element made of a flexible substantially waterproof synthetic plastic and having the general configuration of a hand covering including a thumb portion, at least one partition member of flexible substantially waterproof synthetic plastic provided with side edges and joined to said container element adjacent said side edges, said partition member being disposed within said hand covering and extending from near the open end thereof toward the bottom closed end of said hand covering whereby to form a plurality of individual compartments within said hand covering, at least one said partition member having an edge free adjacent the area of said thumb portion whereby said thumb portion is rendered accessible through one of said compartments, one of said compartments being adapted to hold a polishing cloth, and another of said compartments being adapted to hold a sponge member.

3. A cleaning unit package comprising a container element made of a flexible substantially waterproof synthetic plastic having the general configuration of a mitten including a thumb portion, a partition member of flexible substantially waterproof synthetic plastic provided with side edges and joined to said container element adjacent said side edges, said partition member being disposed within said mitten and extending from near the open end thereof to adjacent the bottom closed end of said mitten whereby to form two individual compartments within said mitten, said partition member having an edge free adjacent the area of said thumb portion whereby said thumb portion is rendered accessible through either of said compartments, a polishing cloth disposed within one of said compartments, and a sponge member disposed within the other of said compartments.

4. A container member for use in a cleaning unit package, comprising a container element made of a flexible substantially waterproof synthetic plastic having the general configuration of a mitten including a thumb portion, a partition member of flexible substantially waterproof synthetic plastic provided with side edges and joined to said container element adjacent said side edges, said partition member being disposed within said mitten and extending from near the open end thereof to adjacent the bottom closed end of said mitten whereby to form two individual compartments within said mitten, said partition member having an edge free adjacent the area of said thumb portion whereby said thumb portion is rendered accessible through either of said compartments, one of said compartments being adapted to hold a polishing cloth, and the other of said compartments being adapted to hold a sponge member.

5. A container member for use in a cleaning unit package comprising a container element made of flexible sheet of polyethylene having the general configuration of a mitten including a thumb portion, at least one partition flexible sheet of polyethylene provided with side edges and joined to said container element adjacent said side edges, said partition sheet being disposed within said mitten and heat-sealed at its side edges and extending from near the open end thereof to adjacent the bottom closed end of said mitten whereby to form a plurality of individual compartments within said mitten, said partition sheet having an edge free adjacent the area of said thumb portion whereby said thumb portion is rendered accessible through either of said compartments, said compartments being adapted to hold therein washing or polishing members such as polishing cloths and sponges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,469,029 Underwood Sept. 25, 1923 1,615,319 Wynn Jan. 25, 1927 2,103,455 Greenwald Dec. 28, 1937 2,551,889 Le Clair May 8, 1951 2,584,633 Southwick Feb. 5, 1952 2,670,473 Stebic Mar. 2, 1954 

